I think the RB2 and RB3 might be flipped, though both could see a lot of PT (for backups) if both prove themselves capable. I also think the Colts will keep another OT, maybe Hilliard? I'd be shocked if Gandy got cut over Johnson or Richard. Also, more LBs will be kept.

__________________

The problem arises when people use statistics like a drunk uses a lamp post: for support instead of illumination.

If luck is where preparation meets opportunity, then clutch is where failure meets luck.

Quote:

<Add1ct> setting myself on fire can't be that hard
<Add1ct> but tackling a mosquito might prove a challenge

1. I definitely didn't like only having 5 linebackers, they do need more and in all likelihood will have more. But keeping a special teams ace like Silva, who could potentially take over at FS after Bethea, was too tempting for me. And I wouldn't cut maybe the team's best ST coverage guy in Darrell Reid, even if he is making 927K this season. I also would have put Texas CB Brandon Foster in if I could just find a space.

2. No Fletcher or Gandy. I don't want to see either go ... but both guys are restricted free agents (signed to $927K as well) who are experienced in the offense, I thought going with the cheaper rookies might be the better way to go. I'd love to trade Gandy to KC or another team for a late 09 draft pick.

3. Charlie Johnson not cut? No, he has good experience at tackle and can/will play inside, can come in as a blocking TE in goal-line packages. He needs to be kept ... for now. I hated cutting Hilliard, btw. I hope he uses this offseason to show the Colts he's their future RT.

4. Garcon over Roby. I loved the addition of Roby this offseason, I think he can take advantage of this opportunity and potentially explode. Hopefully he finally blossoms, now that he is in right situation, and makes the roster ... but it sounds like the team sees something in Garcon, and maybe it's risky trying to get him on the practice squad. I really hope both guys make it a great battle all through camps and preseason.

John Clayton says they might if the price is right ... but I read it as more speculation from him, than anything substantial. I remember Dom Rhodes, just because Kenton Keith makes Dom Rhodes looks good doesn't mean Dom Rhodes is very good. He did his best coming off the bench, when starter Joseph Addai and the offense worn down opposing defenses a bit, in a Marion Barber role. High energy/fresh legs sort of thing, and I think he could/can still do that if the team did re-sign him. But I don't miss the guy being a servicable guy who will occassionally put the ball on the ground.

And I'd rather go with a tough, young runner like Simpson, who is very much like Rhodes, in the 5-9/215 mold with speed and can break some arm tackles running forward. Plus Simpson might be a kickoff return option, Polian couldn't help but mention him as a possibility there in today's presser.

But if a guy signs a cheap deal wanting to play with a contender, I can't say I wouldn't consider it.

Although honestly, I'd rather sign Rosie Colvin. I really hope the Colts sign him. And I'd love for Booger McFarland to heal up fully and the Colts sign him back, at a cheaper price.

I think if that would be the final roster for us this year that we would have more on the field talent than what we had in 2006. As for Dom, he was a great role player, but I'd rather see some new guys in at backup RB.

The team knows he's awful at tackle, given how much they talk about him at guard. Granted he might be one of the softer RGs in the league, but then that wouldn't be any different than having Jake Scott before. Johnson has experience at both tackle spots, which could help the roster, and I think he might have been injured last year so let's hope he's much better this season.

I hope Corey Hilliard beats him out, I think he has a better chance to get it done at RG and RT.

Hopefully Ryan Diem bounces back to have a good year, I wouldn't be surprised if this is his last season with the Colts (otherwise), what with his salary increasing considering in the last few years of his current deal. And he's taken the mantle of stupid penalties, I'm pretty sure he had one against the Chargers that really hurt the team.

If the Colts spend a Day One pick on RT next year, then they'll have drafted (plus re-signing Lilja) their young, revamped OL in a three-year-period. An OL that can hopefully run-block and pass-block proficiently.

I would just shift Charlie Johnson to the practice squad, put Dylan Gandy at OL and Curtis Johnson in at DE. Pierre Garcon is a project, in Polian's words. If he does not take over the KR role from T.J.Rushing, then he will be in the practice squad. If he does, I think T.J.Rushing will go to the practice squad. Here is my list, based on moving Dylan Gandy back for Charlie Johnson and Curtis Johnson back for Pierre Garcon. Besides, I feel there is no need for 6 WRs in the roster since we have enough TEs to run 2 TE plays more often.

It's more than a season I think, but I'm not 100% sure. I remember hearing something about 3 years before though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenewstribune.com

After noon EST on September 2nd, each club may establish a Practice Squad of no more than eight (8) players who are free agents.The practice squad shall consist of the following players, provided that they have not served more than two previous seasons on a Practice Squad: (i) players who do not have an Accrued Season of NFL experience; and (ii) free agent players who were on the Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during their only Accrued Season(s). An otherwise eligible player may be a practice squad player for a third season only if the Club by which he is employed that season has at least 53 players on its Active/Inactive List during the entire period of his employment. A player shall be deemed to have served on a Practice Squad in a season if he has passed the club’s physical and been a member of the club’s Practice Squad for at least three regular season or postseason games during his first two Practice Squad seasons, and for at least one regular season or postseason game during his third Practice Squad season. (A bye week counts as a game provided that the player is not terminated until after the regular season or postseason weekend in question.) and who did not dress for more than eight (8) regular season games during their only accrued (i.e., on the 53 man roster for at least 6 games) season. Minimum salary for a practice squad player shall be $4,700 per week for the 2006-07 League Years, $5,200 per week for the 2008-10 League Years and the 2011 League Year if it is an Uncapped Year, and $5,700 per week for the 2011 League Year if it is a Capped Year and the 2012 League Year, including postseason weeks in which his Club is in the playoffs. Aigher salary can be negotiated. In addition, a player under contract to a club as a Practice Squad player is completely free to sign a contract with another NFL club during the season in order to be on the second club's Active/Inactive (i.e., 53 man) list. A practice squad player may not sign an NFL Player Contract with his Club’s next opponent later than 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the sixth day preceding the game (except in bye weeks, when the prohibition commences on the tenth day preceding the game).If another club signs a Practice Squad player to its 53 man roster it does not have to provide any sort of compensation to the player's former club but it generally must keep the player on the 53 man roster for at least 3 weeks, thereby mandating that he earns in 2007 the minimum first year salary for said 3 week period ($285,000 prorated weekly). Also note that a team can add and release players from the practice squad as often as it desires and the eight (8) man limit does not have to be maintained. A player may be on the practice squad for two seasons; three weeks on the practice squad count as a season. An otherwise eligible player may be a practice squad player for a third season only if the Club by which he is employed that season has at least 53 players on its Active/Inactive List during the entire period of his employment. The League may elect to allow some or all Clubs to add to their practice squads one additional player, who shall not count against the limit above, whose citizenship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and its Territories (“International Player”). The League’s election in any one season shall not determine or affect its election in any subsequent season

Thanks for that tyler, I see the 3 years part now (part about a player having been on a practice squad with the same team and the team having 53 players...applies to guys like John Standeford in the past).

Anyway, no one has yet attempted to address the 2nd part of what this thread is about. What are the current team needs? Honestly looking at the roster, the only thing I see missing that I'd really like added is a dominant 3-tech, ala a Warren Sapp or Tommie Harris (who, incidentally, could be a FA at season's end). Looking at the contract situations, it's looking like DB is the next biggest need, that is if the RB situation pans. Is there anything I'm missing here?

__________________

The problem arises when people use statistics like a drunk uses a lamp post: for support instead of illumination.

If luck is where preparation meets opportunity, then clutch is where failure meets luck.

Quote:

<Add1ct> setting myself on fire can't be that hard
<Add1ct> but tackling a mosquito might prove a challenge